Quick Definition
thought, intention, purpose
Strong's Definition
thoughtfulness, i.e. moral understanding
Derivation: from a compound of G1722 (ἐν) and G3563 (νοῦς);
KJV Usage: intent, mind
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἔννοια, ἐννοίας, ἡ (νοῦς);
1. the act of thinking, consideration, meditation; (Xenophon, Plato, others).
2. a thought, notion, conception; (Plato, Phaedo, p. 73 c., etc.; especially in philosophical writings, as Cicero, Tusc. 1, 24, 57; Acad. 2, 7 and 10; Epictetus diss. 2, 11, 2f, etc.; Plutarch, plac. philos. 4, 11, 1; (Diogenes Laërtius 3, 79).
3. mind, understanding, will; manner of thinking and feeling; German Gesinnung (Euripides, Hel. 1026; Diodorus 2, 30 variant; τοιαύτην ἔννοιαν ἐμποίειν τίνι, Isocrates, p. 112 d.; τήρησον τήν ἐμήν βουλήν καί ἔννοιαν, Pro_3:21; φυλάσσειν ἔννοιαν ἀγαθήν, Pro_5:2): so 1Pe_4:1; plural with καρδίας added (as in Pro_23:19), Heb_4:12 (A. V. intents of the heart), cf. Wis_2:14.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἔννοια ennoia 2x
notion, idea; thought, purpose, intention, Heb_4:12 ; 1Pe_4:1
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
ἔννοια , -ας , ἡ
( <νοῦς ),
[in LXX : Pro_1:4 ; Pro_2:11 ; Pro_3:21 ; Pro_4:1 ; Pro_5:2 ; Pro_8:12 ; Pro_16:22 ; Pro_18:15 ; Pro_19:7 ; Pro_23:4 ; Pro_23:19 ; Pro_24:7 ( H4209 , etc.), Wis_2:14 , Da TH Sus 1:28 * ;]
1. thinking, consideration.
2. a thought, purpose, design: Heb_4:12 , 1Pe_4:1 .†
SYN.: ἐνθῦμησις G1761 , q.v. ( Cremer , 439).
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ἔννοια [page 216]
P Par 63 .32 (B.C. 165) (= P Petr III. p. 20) ἐπί τῆς αὐτῆς ἐννοίας [γενομέν ]ους , having come to the same conclusion (Mahaffy), P Rein 7 .15 (B.C. 141?) ὑποσχόμενός τε [ἀποδοῦναι ? διὰ πάση ]ς̣ ἡσυχίας εἶχον τῶι μηδεμίαν ἔννοιαν [κ ]ακίας ἔχειν , comme il promit de me le rendre, je restai complθtement tranquille, n ayant aucun soupηon qu il me cherchβt malice (Ed.). For the verb, as in Jdt_9:5 , cf. Aristeas 133 κἂν ἐννοηθῇ τις κακίαν ἐπιτελεῖν . MGr ἔννοια (ἔγνοια ), care, worry.
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
ἔννοια [Etym: from ἐννοέω] ἔννοια, ἡ, "a thought in the mind, notion, conception", Plat. "a thought, intent, design", Eur. , Xen.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
ἔννοια, -ας, ἡ
(νοῦς), [in LXX: Pro.1:4 2:11 3:21 4:1 5:2 8:12 16:22 18:15 19:7 23:4, 19 24:7 (מְזִמָּה, etc.), Wis.2:14, Da TH Sus 1:28* ;]
__1. thinking, consideration.
__2. a thought, purpose, design: Heb.4:12, 1Pe.4:1.†
SYN.: ἐνθῦμησις, which see (Cremer, 439) (AS)
📖 In-Depth Word Study
Intentions (purpose) (1771) ennoia
Intentions (1771) (ennoia from en = in + noús = mind) means literally that which takes place in the mind. Ennoia describes a mental conception that follows consideration or deliberation. It is closely allied to enthumesis for both refer to the act of consideration or reflection. Like phroneo, ennoia relates to thought, especially to the development of a perspective that will provide insight and so shape our attitude and guide our actions.
Intention (The road to hell is paved with good intentions) is a determination to act in a certain way and describes what one intends to accomplish or attain. Intention represents the deliberate exercise of the will with reference to the consequences of an act attempted or performed. In Logic intentions describe conceptions formed by directing the mind towards an object.
There are 12 uses of ennoia in the Septuagint (LXX), all in Proverbs (Prov. 1:4; 2:11; 3:21; 4:1; 5:2; 8:12; 16:22; 18:15; 19:7; 23:4, 19; 24:7)
Regarding the uses of ennoia in Proverbs NIDNTT writes that...
All the Hebrew equivalents mean understanding, wisdom, knowledge, and so ennoia retains its sense of reflection, insight, perception, wisdom, though not the theoretical meaning of concept. (Brown, Colin, Editor. New International Dictionary of NT Theology. 1986. Zondervan)
The only other NT use of ennoia is in 1Pe 4:1 (note)
Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose (ennoia - way of thinking, purpose describes a more settled determination), because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.
Vincent writes that ennoia
is the definite conception which follows enthumesis
Barclay compares enthumesis and ennoia writing that the former
is the emotional part of man, (while) intention (ennoia) is the intellectual part of man. It is as if he said: “Your emotional and intellectual life must alike be submitted to the scrutiny of God.” (Barclay, W: The Daily Study Bible Series. The Westminster Press or Logos)
God's inspired Word reveals all a person is and can become. It judges every person in relationship to God's will and way. The judgment centers on potential, plans, and attitudes, not simply on individual acts.